Switching device

Abstract

To enhance a waterproof function of a rubber sheet and to facilitate drainage of infiltrated liquid.SOLUTION: A switch device 100 comprises: a printed circuit board 20 with an electric contact; a rubber sheet 30 that covers the printed circuit board; an operation knob 40 that is operated to turn on / off the electric contact; an operation mechanism 50 interposed between the operation knob and a rubber dome to transmit a force applied to the operation knob to the rubber dome; an operation mechanism plate 60 on which the operation mechanism is provided; a housing 10 that has on a lateral face an insertion hole for inserting a portion to be connected with the operation knob of the operation mechanism and has on a bottom face a drainage hole 12 for draining liquid infiltrated therein; and a rear cover 70 fitted from a rear side of the housing to sandwich the whole circumference of the rubber sheet with a step part 16 formed inside the housing. The printed circuit board is accommodated in a space between the rear cover and the rubber sheet. The drainage hole is located at a lower part of a space between an inner surface of the housing and the rubber sheet. A bottom part 1A exists between the drainage hole and the rubber sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been known switch devices that include a printed circuit board with electrical contacts, an operating mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the electrical contacts, and a housing for accommodating these components. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a centralized switch for consolidating switches. This switch is an in-vehicle power seat switch that functions as a centralized switch, with a thin switch equipped with a front sheet having a dome-shaped protrusion mounted on the surface of the switch knob. This power seat switch is equipped with a dustproof / waterproof boot made of a flexible rubber sheet-like member, as it may be exposed to rainwater or dust.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a power seat switch that aims to prevent light emitted from a light emitter mounted on a board from leaking through a through-hole in the cover without passing through the translucent cover. This switch includes a housing, a board mounted inside the housing, a light emitter mounted on one side of the board, and an elastic sheet that covers the one side of the board and the light emitter and guides the light from the light emitter. A through-hole is formed in the housing corresponding to the one side of the board. The elastic sheet has a mirror surface on the surface corresponding to the through-hole for total reflection of light passing through it. In addition, to improve waterproofing, the entire surface of the board is covered with a rubber sheet (elastic sheet).

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a power seat switch device for a vehicle that is easy to assemble and operate. This power seat switch device is composed of a lower case, a wiring board housed in the lower case, first and second connector terminals connected to one end of the wiring board, first to fourth lever switches mounted on the wiring board, first to fourth drive bodies individually disposed above each lever switch, an upper case that constitutes the case of the switch device in combination with the lower case, a first operating knob that connects the first to third drive bodies, and a second operating knob that connects to the fourth drive body.

[0005] Patent Document 4 discloses a rotary switch device with no backlash and a stable operating feel. This switch device includes a switch member, a support that houses the switch member, an operation knob rotatably supported on the support, a slider member that moves back and forth as the operation knob rotates, and a drive member that drives the switch member in response to the back and forth movement of the slider member. The support has a shaft portion for rotatably supporting the operation knob, and the operation knob has a shaft-side end provided with a bearing portion into which the shaft portion is inserted and a rotation-side end to which the slider member is connected without a gap, the inner circumferential surface of the bearing portion surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion with a gap, and at least one of the shaft portion and the bearing portion is provided with a biasing portion for biasing the operation knob in a direction from the slider member toward the shaft portion.

[0006] Patent Document 5 discloses a sliding electrical component that allows for relatively flexible adjustment of the click feeling during sliding and avoids bulkiness. In this electrical component, the slider has a pair of protrusions extending in a predetermined direction, each of which is inserted into a guideway in the retaining case and slides along the guide surface. Each protrusion has a notch that opens to its distal end, and a steel ball resiliently biased by a coil spring makes elastic contact with the inner wall of the notch. The notch tapers from the open end toward the rear, and the steel ball engages and disengages with a click groove formed in the innermost portion of the notch, generating a click feeling. The coil spring is housed in a spring housing in the retaining case, which faces the guideway and is continuous with the guide surface.

[0007] Patent Document 6 discloses an operating device including an operating knob, an actuator, a first switch, a second switch, and a holder. The housing space of the holder has a first housing portion extending in a first direction, housing a first arm of the actuator, and guiding the first arm in the direction of pressing the first switch, and a second housing portion extending in a second direction, housing a second arm of the actuator, and guiding the second arm in the direction of pressing the second switch. The first arm or the first housing portion has a tolerance portion that prevents interference between the first arm and the first housing portion and allows tilting of the actuator in the second direction, and the second arm or the second housing portion has a tolerance portion that prevents interference between the second arm and the second housing portion and allows tilting of the actuator in the first direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-281102 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2020 / 121688 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-288393 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-213120 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-218064 [Patent Document 6] International Publication No. 2020 / 255495 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention provides a switch device that enhances the waterproof function of a rubber sheet and makes it easier to drain any liquid that has entered. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, there is provided a switch device comprising: a printed circuit board having electrical contacts and on which electronic components are mounted; a rubber sheet covering the printed circuit board and having rubber domes in positions corresponding to the electrical contacts; an operation knob that is operated to operate the rubber dome and turn the electrical contacts on and off; an operation mechanism that is interposed between the operation knob and the rubber dome and transmits force applied to the operation knob to the rubber dome; an operation mechanism plate on which the operation mechanism is provided; a housing that has an insertion hole on its side for inserting the part of the operation mechanism that connects with the operation knob and a drain hole on its bottom for draining liquid that has seeped inside; and a back cover that is fitted from the back side of the housing and sandwiches the entire periphery of the rubber sheet with a step formed inside the housing, wherein the printed circuit board is accommodated in the space between the back cover and the rubber sheet, the drain hole is located at the bottom of the space between the inner surface of the housing and the rubber sheet, and a bottom is between the drain hole and the rubber sheet. According to this, the drain hole located on the bottom surface of the housing is located away from the rubber sheet so that there is a bottom between the rubber sheet and the lower part of the space between the inner surface of the housing and the rubber sheet, thereby keeping liquid away from the connection part (step part) between the rubber sheet and the housing and preventing it from penetrating from there, thereby improving the waterproof function of the rubber sheet and providing a switch device that makes it easier to drain liquid that has penetrated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a switch device that enhances the waterproof function of the rubber sheet and makes it easier to drain any liquid that has entered. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A is a front view of a switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a bottom view, FIG. 1C is a perspective view from the upper right front side, and FIG. 1D is a perspective view from the upper left rear side. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA in FIG. 1(B). [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the lower right front, in which (A) is a perspective view showing the entire device, (B) is a perspective view with the operation knob removed, (C) is a perspective view with the front housing further removed, (D) is a perspective view from closer to the front than (C) with the surface portion of the housing removed but leaving the discharge path, and (E) is a perspective view of the rubber sheet and printed circuit board with the operation mechanism plate further removed. [Figure 4] 1A is a bottom view of an assembly consisting of a switch device and a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the assembly as seen from the upper right front side, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the assembly as seen from the upper left rear side. [Figure 5] 4(A) is a cross-sectional view of an assembly including a switch device and a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB in FIG. 4(A). [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are perspective views of an assembly consisting of a switch device and a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the lower right rear side, in which (A) is a perspective view showing the entire assembly, (B) is a perspective view with the rear cover removed, and (C) is a perspective view with the printed circuit board further removed. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are perspective views of an assembly consisting of a switch device and a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the lower right rear side, in which (A) is a perspective view with the rubber sheet removed, and (B) is a perspective view with the operating mechanism plate removed. [Figure 8]1A and 1B are perspective views of an assembly consisting of a switch device and a cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the upper left rear side, in which (A) is a perspective view with the rubber sheet removed, and (B) is a perspective view with the operating mechanism plate removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <First Example> A switch device 100 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The switch device 100 is mounted on a vehicle, receives power from the vehicle battery, and performs on / off control of a motor that drives a predetermined location based on user operation. The switch device 100 has excellent water resistance, as will be described later, and is intended to be installed in locations within the vehicle where it may be exposed to rainwater or liquids, such as near the doors or on seats. The switch device 100 presented as an example is a switch provided on the side of the seat on the driver's door side for operating a power seat.

[0014] The switch device 100 includes a housing 10, a printed circuit board 20, a rubber sheet 30, an operation knob 40, an operation mechanism 50, an operation mechanism plate 60, and a back cover 70. The housing 10 has a generally horizontally elongated rectangular shape in a front view so as to fit the side of a seat, and is thick enough to accommodate the printed circuit board 20, the rubber sheet 30, and the operation mechanism plate 60 so that they are all generally parallel to the front surface. In other words, when the switch device 100 is installed in a vehicle, the printed circuit board 20, the rubber sheet 30, and the operation mechanism plate 60 housed inside are oriented vertically so that their planes are generally perpendicular to the ground. The back of the housing 10 is open, but after the contents are stored inside, the back cover 70 serves as a lid and closes the housing. The switch device 100 is installed with the back cover 70 facing the seat and the front side facing the door.

[0015] The printed circuit board 20 is mounted with electrical contacts 21, electronic components (not shown), and a connector 22 for electrical connection to the outside. The electrical contacts 21 typically constitute part of a membrane switch, but are not limited to this. For example, a rubber dome (described later) may be provided with a conductive material, and the rubber dome may be configured to establish electrical continuity by coming into contact with the electrical contacts 21 on the surface of the board. The connector 22 is mounted on the lower part of the printed circuit board 20, facing downward, making it difficult for the user to see and easy to connect to the power supply and motor. The electronic components use power from the power supply to generate signals for driving the motor.

[0016] The rubber sheet 30 is a flexible rubber sheet that covers the printed circuit board 20 and has rubber domes 31 at positions corresponding to the electrical contacts 21. The rubber sheet 30 covers not only the planar printed circuit board 20 but also the connectors 22 that protrude from the printed circuit board 20. The rubber domes 31 are provided at positions corresponding to the electrical contacts 21 on the printed circuit board 20, and when pressed by an operating mechanism 50 (described below), they recess to connect the electrical contacts 21. When the pressure is removed, the rubber domes 31 separate from the electrical contacts 21 due to their elasticity, disconnecting them. The rubber sheet 30 covers all of the connectors 22, electrical contacts 21, and electronic components on the printed circuit board 20 through which electricity flows, and prevents the printed circuit board 20 from becoming wet even if the switch device 100 becomes wet.

[0017] A plurality of operation knobs 40 are provided on the front side of the driver's seat to drive predetermined locations in predetermined directions. For example, one of the operation knobs 40 is used to move the seat back and forth and up and down, and another operation knob 40 is used to move the seat back up and down. Therefore, operation knob 40 is often operated in the up and down direction (direction D1 in FIGS. 1 and 2), and this operating force is applied to switch device 100. When operation knob 40 is operated by a user, the movement is transmitted to operation mechanism 50, and operation knob 40 operates rubber dome 31 via operation mechanism 50 to turn electrical contact 21 on and off.

[0018] The operation mechanism 50 has a connection portion 51 with the operation knob 40, a slide portion 52, and a plunger 53 (FIG. 2). The connection portion 51 passes through an insertion hole 11 provided in the side surface on the front side of the housing 10, is exposed from the front of the housing 10, and is connected to the operation knob 40. The slide portion 52 is accommodated within the housing 10, and slides in the direction D1 together with the operation knob 40. The plunger 53 is a member that converts the moving direction of the slide portion 52 to a vertical direction, i.e., a direction perpendicular to the printed circuit board 20 and the rubber sheet 30.

[0019] For example, when the user operates the operation knob 40 downward at D1, the slide portion 52 slides downward together with the operation knob 40, depressing the tip of the plunger 53 located below (to the right as viewed in the figure). When the plunger 53 is depressed, the other tip abuts against and depresses the rubber dome 31, thereby turning on the electrical contact 21 on the printed circuit board 20. In this way, the operation mechanism 50 is interposed between the operation knob 40 and the rubber dome 31, and transmits the force applied to the operation knob 40 to the rubber dome 31. Although not shown, the operation mechanism 50 also includes an elastic member that biases the slide portion 52 in a predetermined direction, a member that generates a switch feel, and the like.

[0020] The operation mechanism plate 60 is a strong base on which multiple operation mechanisms 50 are mounted, and is configured to support each operation mechanism 50 and withstand the operating force applied via the operation knob 40. The operation mechanism plate 60 is attached to the frontmost side inside the housing 10, and has support parts 62 that fit into support holes 14 provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the housing 10 (FIG. 2), thereby firmly attaching it to the housing 10. As can be seen from the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 and the front view and bottom view of FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the positions of the support parts 62 and operation mechanisms 50 on the operation mechanism plate 60, and the corresponding positions of the support holes 14 and insertion holes 11 on the housing 10, are aligned in the operating direction D1 of the operation knob 40 when viewed from the front side.

[0021] Support holes 14 are provided directly below the insertion holes 11 through which the connecting portions 51 of the operating mechanism 50, through which the operation knob 40 and the slide portion 52 move up and down, are inserted. That is, with this configuration, the force in the operating direction D1 applied to the operating knob 40 arranged on the front surface of the switch device 100 can be firmly supported via the support portions 62 by the support holes 14 arranged directly above the insertion hole 11 on the top surface and directly below the insertion hole 11 on the bottom surface, thereby ensuring the strength of the operating mechanism 50. Note that in this embodiment, the support holes 14 are holes that penetrate the front and inner surfaces of the housing 10, but they may also be recessed holes that do not penetrate and engage with the support portions 62.

[0022] The housing 10 also has drain holes 12 on its bottom surface for draining liquid that has seeped into the housing 10. The positions of the drain holes 12 are offset from the positions of the insertion holes 11 in the operation direction D1 of the operation knob 40. That is, support holes 14 are provided on the bottom surface directly below the insertion holes 11, and drain holes 12 are provided between the support holes 14, with the drain holes 12 and support holes 14 arranged alternately on the bottom surface ( FIG. 1(B) , etc.). Because liquid may seep in through the insertion holes 11 through which part of the operation mechanism 50 is inserted, it is preferable that the drain holes 12 be located directly below the insertion holes 11. However, as will be described later, by providing a configuration in which the seeping liquid is guided to the drain holes 12, the strength of the operation mechanism can be ensured and the seeping liquid can be easily drained even if the drain holes 12 are offset in the operation direction D1.

[0023] The housing 10 houses the operation mechanism plate 60, rubber sheet 30, and printed circuit board 20 in this order from the front, and the rear cover 70 is fitted from the back side of the housing 10 to close it. When fitting the rear cover 70 into the housing 10, the entire periphery of the rubber sheet 30 is fitted in with a step 16 formed inside the housing 10 (FIGS. 2 and 5). In this way, the printed circuit board 20, through which electricity flows, is housed in the space between the rear cover 70 and the rubber sheet 30, and by sandwiching the entire periphery, the printed circuit board 20 can be protected from water exposure.

[0024] The drain hole 12 is located on the inner surface of the front side of the housing 10, more specifically, at the bottom of the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30, and is provided so that a bottom 1A exists between the drain hole 12 and the rubber sheet 30 (FIG. 5). The bottom 1A is a part of the housing 10 and is provided between the drain hole 12 and the step 16. According to this, the drain hole 12 located on the bottom surface of the housing 10 is located at the bottom of the space between the inner surface of the front side of the housing 10 and the rubber sheet 30, and is separated from the rubber sheet 30 so that a bottom 1A exists between the drain hole 12 and the rubber sheet 30. This keeps liquid away from the connection portion (step 16) between the rubber sheet 30 and the housing 10, preventing it from penetrating therethrough, thereby enhancing the waterproof function of the rubber sheet 30 and making it easier to drain any liquid that has penetrated.

[0025] The housing 10 also has a connector opening 17 on its bottom surface, which is provided for external connection to a connector 22 that is provided below the printed circuit board 20 and faces downward. The connector opening 17 is spaced a predetermined distance from the drain hole 12 on the bottom surface. The predetermined distance is a distance at which liquid discharged from the drain hole 12 does not splash onto the connector opening 17 and is determined as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(A), it is a distance such that a support hole 14 is present between the connector opening 17 and the drain hole 12. In this way, by arranging the drain hole 12 and the connector opening 17 on the bottom surface of the housing 10 at a predetermined distance, such as by arranging the support hole 14, it is possible to prevent liquid that has entered the housing 10 and been discharged from the drain hole 12 from entering the connector 22.

[0026] If rainwater, a drink, or other liquid is splashed onto the switch device 100 from above, the liquid may seep in from the top surface of the housing 10, running down the front side surface, and through the insertion hole 11. The liquid that seeps in through the insertion hole 11 flows into the space between the inner surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60. The liquid that flows into the space between the inner surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 flows toward the insertion hole 11 and the bottom side of the operation mechanism 50, because the operation mechanism plate 60 and the printed circuit board 20 are configured to be vertically oriented when the switch device 100 is installed.

[0027] The operation mechanism plate 60 has a communication hole 61 on the bottom side of the operation mechanism 50, which connects the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30 with the space between the inner surface of the front side surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 (Figs. 3(C), (D), and 5). Liquid that flows into the space between the inner surface of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60 flows through this communication hole 61 into the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30 and is discharged through the discharge hole 12 provided in the bottom surface of this space.

[0028] Furthermore, it is preferable that a drain path 15 be provided in the space between the inner surface of the side surface on the front side of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60, on the bottom side of the insertion hole 11 and the operation mechanism 50, to guide liquid that has seeped in through the insertion hole 11 to the communication hole 61. In this way, by providing the drain path 15 in the space between the inner surface of the side surface on the front side of the housing 10 and the operation mechanism plate 60, on the bottom side of the insertion hole 11 and the operation mechanism 50, to the communication hole 61 that communicates the spaces on both sides of the operation mechanism plate 60, it is possible to make it easier to drain the liquid that has seeped in through the drain hole 12 in a switch device in which the printed circuit board 20 is vertically oriented when the switch device 100 is installed.

[0029] In this embodiment, the drain path 15 extends from the inner surface of the front side of the housing 10 toward the operation mechanism plate 60, with its tip abutting against the operation mechanism plate 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the drain path may be formed by extending from the housing-side surface of the operation mechanism plate toward the front of the housing with its tip abutting against the inner surface of the housing. In either case, the formation of such a drain path allows liquid that has seeped in through the insertion hole 11 to be smoothly guided to the communication hole 61 and quickly discharged from the inside of the switch device 100.

[0030] Furthermore, liquid that has flowed into the space between the operation mechanism plate 60 and the rubber sheet 30 through the communication hole 61 normally flows toward the drain hole 12 provided below, but because the rubber sheet 30 has a portion covering the connector 22 that is provided to rise from the printed circuit board 20, it is preferable to guide the liquid from that portion to the drain hole 12. In terms of configuration, the rubber sheet 30 preferably has a connector part drain path 32 that extends toward the operation mechanism plate 60, with its tip abutting the operation mechanism plate 60, and that guides liquid that has seeped in from the insertion hole 11 via the communication hole 61 to the drain hole 12 (FIG. 3(E)). One end of the connector part drain path 32 is connected to a part of the rubber sheet 30 that covers the connector 22, and extends at an angle from that end toward the drain hole 12 provided on the bottom surface, with the other end 34 formed near the bottom surface. The other end 34 is separated from the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22, and a gap 33 that does not cause capillary action exists between the lower end of the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22 and the other end 34.

[0031] In this way, the connector section discharge path 32 that directs the liquid formed in the rubber sheet 30 to the discharge hole 12 extends at an angle from the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22 toward the discharge hole 12, and its tip (other end 34) is separated from the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22, and the existence of a gap 33 between it and the rubber sheet 30 covering the connector 22 prevents liquid from seeping in through the connector opening 17 of the connector 22.

[0032] It is preferable to have a connector opening wall 18 extending downward around the periphery of the connector opening 17. This can prevent the liquid discharged from the drain hole 12 from passing over the connector opening wall 18 and entering the connector 22. It is also preferable to have a drain hole wall 13 extending downward around the periphery of the drain hole 12. This can prevent the liquid discharged from the drain hole 12 from entering the connector 22 because it falls further down.

[0033] It is preferable that the top surface of the housing 10 has a rising portion 19 that rises upward at the end on the rear cover 70 side (see, for example, FIGS. 2, 5, 7). This prevents liquid from seeping around from the rear side and into the housing 10.

[0034] The switch device 100 may also be provided as an assembly 1 together with a decorative cover 200 that is attached to the switch device 100, exposes the operation knob 40 from the front, and covers at least the top and front surfaces of the switch device 100 (FIGS. 4 to 8). This provides an assembly 1 that is aesthetically pleasing and prevents liquid from entering the housing 10.

[0035] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples, and can be implemented in configurations that do not deviate from the scope of the claims. That is, although the present invention has been particularly shown and described primarily with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of the number and other details without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Assembly 100 Switching Device 10. Housing 11 Insertion hole 12 Discharge hole 13 Discharge hole wall 14 Support hole 15 Exhaust channel 16 Step section 17 Connector opening 18 Connector opening wall 19 Rising section 1A bottom 20 Printed Circuit Board 21 Electrical contacts 22 Connectors 30 Rubber Sheet 31 Rubber Dome 32 Connector discharge path 33 Gap 34 other end 40 Operation knob 50 Operating mechanism 51 Connection with the operation knob 52 Slide section 53 Plunger 60 Operation mechanism board 61 Communication hole 62 Support part 70 Back cover 200 covers D1 Operation direction of the operation knob

Claims

[Claim 1] a printed circuit board having electrical contacts and on which electronic components are mounted; a rubber sheet covering the printed circuit board and having rubber domes at positions corresponding to the electrical contacts; an operation knob that is operated to operate the rubber dome and turn on / off the electrical contact; an operation mechanism interposed between the operation knob and the rubber dome, for transmitting a force applied to the operation knob to the rubber dome; an operation mechanism plate provided with the operation mechanism; a housing having an insertion hole on a side surface through which a portion of the operation mechanism connected to the operation knob is inserted and a drain hole on a bottom surface through which liquid that has entered the housing is drained; a rear cover that is fitted from the rear side of the housing and sandwiches the entire periphery of the rubber sheet with a step portion formed inside the housing; Equipped with the printed circuit board is accommodated in the space between the rear cover and the rubber sheet; the discharge hole is located at a lower portion of the space between the inner surface of the housing and the rubber sheet; a bottom portion is present between the discharge hole and the rubber sheet; Switch device.

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